After sitting out from the 2014 election, the BNP is taking part in the 11th parliamentary election slated for Dec 30 as part of two coalitions— the 20-part Alliance it leads and the Jatiya Oikya Front launched in October with Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gano Forum.
With only weeks left for the polls, the party is yet to close negotiations with allies over sharing seats, expect for its long-time ally the Jamaat-e-Islami.
The BNP is holding series of talks with its allies in the 20-party and Oikya Front with senior leaders expecting to close the deal by Dec 8, a day before the deadline for withdrawing nominations ends.
Nagorik Oikya, an ally in the Oikya Front says that its negotiations are at the final stages.
“We have had talks with the BNP, but the matter of one seat is yet to be settled,” its Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna told Bangla Tribune on Monday (Dec 3).
According to people familiar with the negotiations, Nagorik Oikya wants four to five seats exclusively for its candidates.
BNP’s ally in the 20-party coalition, Bangladesh Kalyan party said that they are likely to open talks on Tuesday (Dec 4).
“A meeting between BNP leader and 20-party coordinator Nazrul Islam Khan or BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and the representatives from the registered parties in the coalition is likely on Tuesday, when the matter of seat sharing will be discussed,” its chief Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, a retired Bangladesh Army major general, told Bangla Tribune.
Jatiya Party (JP) chief Andaleeve Rahman also said a meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, before adding: “We have no issues with the BNP (over seats). But the matter will be discussed with the BNP on Tuesday.”
Khelafot Mojlish, an ally in the 20-party, said they were scheduled for a meeting with the BNP on Wednesday.
“But before that we will decide on a specific number of seats exclusively for our candidates. We have already proposed for five seats,” its Secretary General Ahmed Abdul Kader told Bangla Tribune.
The Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa) said it was also due to meet the BNP the same day.
“I have been asked to attend a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul on Wednesday,” its chief Tahmina Pradhan told Bangla Tribune.
Tahmina is likely to be nominated as the 20-party Alliance’s candidate from Panchagarh-2 seat, according to people familiar with the matter.
The BNP will also hold talks with its ally Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Oli Ahmed, a former BNP leader who has served as a Cabinet member in Khaleda-led administrations.
“Negotiations with the BNP over four seats are completed. But we are set for talks with the BNP on Wednesday for a few more,” said LDP Senior Joint Secretary General Shahadat Hossain Selim.
Kader Siddique-led Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL), an ally in the Jatiya Oikya Front, says they have held talks with the BNP on Monday.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune, it Joint General Secretary Iqbal Siddique said, “Me and General Secretary Habibur Rahman Talukder had a meeting with BNP secretary general in the morning.”
He, however, declined to comment on the details of the meeting.
BNP’s another ally in the Oikya Front, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) led by ASM Abdur Rab, said they were likely to have talks on Monday or Tuesday.
“We are yet to open talks with the BNP over seats, but we will not come up with unreasonable demands,” JSD Vice President Tania Ferdousi told Bangla Tribune.